Database Engineer / Specialist

Database Engineer / Specialist

GRADE C9 DATA MODELLING & DATABASE ARCHITECTURE

A highly skilled Database Specialist with a strong passion for data, database technologies, and modern data architecture. Brings deep expertise in data modelling, schema design, database optimisation, and enterprise data management across relational and NoSQL platforms designing and governing scalable, high-performing data solutions using Oracle, PostgreSQL, and NoSQL to support business-critical applications and enterprise transformation initiatives.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the design and implementation of enterprise-grade data architectures and database solutions.
• Define and maintain conceptual, logical, and physical data models for business applications.
• Design scalable and optimised schemas across Oracle, PostgreSQL, and NoSQL platforms.
• Establish data standards, governance frameworks, and best practices for data management.
• Collaborate with application, integration, engineering, and business teams to translate business requirements into robust data solutions.
• Drive database performance tuning, indexing strategies, query optimisation, and capacity planning.
• Design data structures to support OLTP, analytical, and reporting workloads.
• Define data migration, archival, retention, and data quality strategies.
• Support cloud-native and hybrid architecture initiatives involving distributed databases and modern data platforms.
• Review and approve database designs, ensuring alignment with architecture principles, security standards, and regulatory requirements.
• Mentor engineers and developers on database design, modelling techniques, and data engineering best practices.

Skills & Experience

• Database expertise: Deep hands-on experience with Oracle Database, PostgreSQL, and NoSQL databases (MongoDB, Cassandra, DynamoDB, Couchbase, or equivalent).
• Data architecture & modelling: Strong understanding of conceptual, logical, and physical data models; normalisation and denormalisation techniques; schema design and optimisation; Master Data Management (MDM); metadata management and data governance; and data lifecycle management.
• Technical skills: Advanced SQL development and query optimisation; database performance tuning and troubleshooting.
• Experience with partitioning, indexing, replication, and high-availability solutions.
• Understanding of distributed database systems and scalable architectures.
• Experience in data integration patterns and ETL/ELT concepts.
• Familiarity with cloud database services and modern data platforms.
• Knowledge of API-driven and event-driven architectures.

Success Measures

• Scalable, high-performing database solutions delivered across Oracle, PostgreSQL, and NoSQL platforms.
• Well-governed data models and schemas aligned to standards, security, and regulatory requirements.
• Measurable performance gains through tuning, indexing, and query optimisation.
• Reliable data migration, archival, retention, and data quality strategies in production.
• Engineers and developers upskilled in database design and data modelling best practices.